If you party now, will you pay later?

This week's top stories from the web's No.1 science and technology news service 11 February 2009 Dear New Scientist Reader, welcome to the New Scientist newsletter. This week, we reveal why the drug ecstasy is less harmful than feared, the threat to Earth from "dark" comets and, especially for Valentine's day, how to succeed in love... EDITOR'S CHOICE Rowan Hooper, online news editor Ecstasy's Legacy: So Far, So Good The results are in from the first medium-term studies to follow people who have taken the illegal drug during the last 20 years. As a key UK government committee is poised to recommend the drug be downgraded, the emerging picture is that ecstasy may not be as harmful as feared...MORE TOP STORIES "Dark" comets pose threat to Earth Gallery: Meet the scoundrels of astronomy Scientists losing war of words over climate change Gallery: Young Darwin's evolution adventures Cellphones mobilise the minds of the masses African fisheries hit hardest by warming Chemical drink breathes life into damaged hearts Gene caps may turn viruses cancerous Is Iran's space programme more advanced than thought? Who's the daddy? Ape faces reveal family ties Innovation: Designs of the Year AND FINALLY ... This week's Feedback reveals how Aussie soap opera Neighbours taps into general relativity, why three-year-olds have mouths 20 centimetres wide, and offers you a last chance to enter our Darwin competition...MORE LAST WORD   ALL THE JOBS Is it true that cars have killed more people than weapons? Find out, in this week's Last Word column...MORE NEW SCIENTIST JOBS incorporating SCIENCEJOBS.COM Visit our job site for the latest in science, engineering and technology. TOP VIDEOS Robot uses human mind tricks to navigate Why sand is a walking robot's nightmare OUR TOP BLOG POSTS Who says scientists are dull? Last Word: Why do geese need so much fat? Book extract: Darwin: A life in poems by Ruth Padel Are fears justified over Google's buddy tracker? THIS WEEK'S PRINT EDITION FEATURES Valentine's special: Five tips for finding love Messed up once too often in love? Don't despair, New Scientist can help you find that special someone How your looks betray your personality Does your face betray uncomfortable truths about the person within? Roger Highfield investigates, while the idea is put to the test by Richard Wiseman and Rob Jenkins Electronic cigarettes: A safe substitute? They're touted as the cool new way to kick smoking, but are e-cigarettes really risk-free? Helen Thomson sparks up to find out Mathematics: The universal language An alien's description of the cosmos might teach us a thing or two about the nature of reality, says Martin Rees Apeing Darwin: Copy his experiments in your own home Among all the celebrations, we've lost sight of Darwin's ingenious experiments. Henry Nicholls takes us through some of the best ones NEWS Honeybees under attack on all fronts Trapped rainbows could make optical computing a reality Subliminal messaging 'works' SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION OFFER This newsletter has been sent to sekhargreen@gmail.com. If you would prefer not to receive this newsletter, you can unsubscribe by visiting: http://www.rbiforms.co.uk/nsnew.html. © Copyright Reed Business Information Ltd. 2008 Disclaimer This message is intended only for the use of the person(s) (sekhargreen@gmail.com) to whom it is addressed. It may contain information, which is privileged and confidential. Accordingly any dissemination, distribution, copying or other use of this message or any of its content by any person other than the Intended Recipient may constitute a breach of civil or criminal law and is strictly prohibited. If you are not the Intended Recipient, please contact the sender as soon as possible. Reed Business Information Limited. Registered Office: Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5AS. Registered in England under Company No. 0151537